As we mentioned previously, hunting is a big part of Red Dead Redemption 2. However, there’s far more to the game’s hunting mechanic than grabbing a gun and plunging into the woods. Ensuring that your animal kills are clean requires some forethought and planning since you’ll need the right equipment. Fortunately for you, this guide can help cut down on the guesswork.
Getting Clean Kills in Red Dead Redemption 2
There are several criteria to consider when going for a clean animal kill in Red Dead Redemption 2. How big is the animal you’re hunting? What weapon are you using? What type of ammunition do you have? The answers to these questions can mean the difference between a perfect animal pelt and a ruined one.
Some things are just basic common sense. If you blast a rabbit with buckshot, you wouldn’t expect its pelt to be in perfect condition, would you? You can experiment with different weapons and ammunition if you want, but why go through all that trial and error? Redditor DiDiSiMpLucifer recently posted this handy chart which lists the ideal weapons and ammo for each animal size. If you’re not sure about the size of the animal you’re hunting, this reference should help.
Clean Kill Pointers
The full chart provides a lot of useful information, but here are some basic pointers to be aware of:
- You should only use the Varmint Rifle or the Bow with Small Game Arrows when hunting small animals.
- Shotguns are a poor choice most of the time, unless you’re hunting large or massive prey with slug ammo.
- Any firearm should suffice when hunting medium game, but rifles are especially effective.
- Poison Arrows and Poison Throwing Knives are surprisingly effective against all animal sizes other than small.
If you want to upgrade/fine-tune your weapons ahead of the hunt, our weapon primer guide can help. Stay tuned for more Red Dead Redemption 2 coverage throughout the week.